Since her freshman year, junior Abby Maulding has been a part of La Salle’s girls varsity volleyball team. 

Maulding started playing volleyball when she was eight years old, and since then has played for multiple club teams over the years. 

As the captain, Maulding has a significant leadership role on the team. “I try my best to be empathetic and to be compassionate towards my teammates, especially for people who are new to varsity,” she said. “I know what it’s like to be so nervous when you’re on that team.” 

Inclusivity and a tight-knit community are things that Maulding highly values. She strives to do what she can to make sure that everyone on the team feels both welcomed and comfortable. “I think we’re very good at including everyone and making sure everyone has a say in everything,” Maulding said. “Even if there are three captains, we do our best to make sure everyone’s voice is heard.” 

Maulding has grown to love her position as setter because she leads the offense and helps control the game while being aware of everything going on around her, understanding how her passers and hitters are moving on the court. 

Although Maulding recognizes that there is room for growth and improvement within her team, she is still satisfied with the progress that they have made so far. With two freshmen, one sophomore, eight juniors and three seniors — one of whom is injured — the team is much younger than in previous years. 

Her most memorable moment while playing La Salle volleyball was competing in the state finals game during her freshman season. 

“I felt so blessed to be there,” she said. “Being able to be there with my sister, it was something that I loved sharing, not only with her but with also the juniors at the time … I’ll hold onto that forever.” 

Maulding’s older sister, Olivia Maulding, has always been someone who inspires her. “She started playing way before I did and just watching her play and kind of the way she was so quick with her movements and just how graceful she looked, it just inspired me,” she said. “Volleyball just became natural to me because of her.” 

Striking a balance between school and volleyball is a difficult task that Maulding continues to improve upon. “I’ve learned time management really comes with discipline,” she said. Maulding tries to do as much work in advance as she can so when she gets home at 11 p.m., she doesn’t have as much to do.  

One of Maulding’s goals is to have more confidence in herself whenever she’s on the court and focus on trusting herself more. She has also considered coaching younger generations in the future, helping them develop a similar drive that she had when she was little. 

“It’s so valuable for them to have a sense of community, especially in a sport,” Maulding said. “I would want to be a leader in that role later on in life.”

Maulding’s advice to her younger self before entering high school would be that “it’s not as scary as it seems.”

“As a freshman, I was always so nervous to go out on the court, especially since I was playing with multiple seniors,” she said. 

Now, Maulding wants to shift her focus onto having fun. 

“I’m already a junior now and high school is slipping away from me, so probably just trying to embrace the opportunity that I have and make the best of it instead of trying so hard to impress other people, just try to impress myself,” she said.